Young people can do a range of activities such as:

Painting and drawing – working with one of our artists to create original artwork

Animation – including stop motion animation and computer based animation and video effects

Music – working with one of our producers to create beats, rap, play guitar or work as a group to start a band

Video – making a music video or short film

Upcycling – creating new bits of art and furniture from old bits of junk

Sculpture – getting creative with anything that’s around in the Soft Touch materials store – get encouraged by our visual artists, and see what you can make

Cooking – Through our Arts Cafe, participants can learn to cook healthy food, with encouragement and guidance from our project staff, and also contribute to our cafe by selling the food that is made. This encourages young people to cook, be Healthy, experience new food and also to that you can make money out of the things you make.

We offer Arts Award to all our participants on Creative Studio: through Arts Award’s five levels of accreditation children and young people aged up to 25 can explore any art form including performing arts, visual arts, literature, media and multimedia. The Award builds confidence, helps young people to enjoy cultural activities, and prepares them for further education or employment.Most young people who decide to do the Arts Award do the Level 1 Bronze Award, but participants can also get involved in Silver (Level 2) and Gold (Level 3).

Creative Studio works with children and young people aged 5-19, with generally one to two people per session. It’s a friendly arts project designed to give participants a more personalised experience which keeps them engaged through arts and music to move them on in their lives, whether that’s getting back into eduction, raising aspirations or enabling them to develop social skills.

Impact on YP

• Involvement in creative arts can make children with mental health problems feel better about themselves.
• Involvement in Creative studio can learn new skills in arts, food, music as well as life skills and communication
• Taking part in CS can increase confidence and resilience
• Taking part in CS, can lead to progression projects within other Soft Touch Arts projects, meeting new people and have a sense of community which maybe they didn’t have in previous setting,
• When a child with mental health problems or LD get involved with the arts it helps them reengage in education, family, and increase the prospects for their future
• If a young person with MH and LD engages in the arts, this could lead to jobs and careers, less support and being able to live a normal life.

Impact on Schools

• Schools send Students to Soft Touch Arts  to involve students in the arts, music food and creativity.
• When a school send Students to Soft Touch Arts and get involved in the arts the school notice an improvement of behaviour/engagement in other activities.
• If a child’s Behaviour and engagement improves, they are more likely to attain Qualifications and progress in their education.
• Less disruption in main classroom.
• Sending staff to STA teaches them new skills, creates a new relationship with the young person, gives them ideas that they could use in their schools

One parent of a participant said “Lauren wasn’t too keen on the photography at the start, but she’s been showing us her work at home and she’s really quite proud of it which is brilliant. Thank you so much.”

The sessions are designed to keep young people engaged and moving on in their life, raising aspirations, allowing them to feel good about what they have achieved and social skills to enable them to get on well with people.

If you are interested in or would like to enrol students please call 0116 255 2592 or email joe@soft-touch.org.uk

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